Video: Setting text along a closed path

So we know that inside of Illustrator, we can create a type on a path object where the type flows along a path. We've done that so far with open paths, but let's take a closer look at working with closed paths because a few things are somewhat different. First of all note that in this example I have the word CULTIVATE appear across the top, but the word YOUR GARDEN goes in a different direction across the bottom. In order to create this type of design inside of Illustrator, you actually need to create two type on a path objects.

In Illustrator CS5 Essential Training, author Mordy Golding explains the core concepts and techniques that apply to any workflow in Illustrator, whether designing for print, the web, or assets for other applications. This course includes a detailed explanation of the elements that make up vector graphics—paths, strokes, and fills—and shows how to use each of the Illustrator drawing tools. Also demonstrated are techniques for combining and cleaning up paths, organizing paths into groups and layers, text editing, working with color, effects, and much more. Exercise files accompany the course.

Setting text along a closed path

So we know that inside of Illustrator, we can create a type on a path objectwhere the type flows along a path.We've done that so far with open paths, but let's take a closer look at workingwith closed paths because a few things are somewhat different.First of all note that in this example I have the word CULTIVATE appearacross the top, but the word YOUR GARDEN goes in a different direction across the bottom.In order to create this type of design inside of Illustrator, you actually needto create two type on a path objects.

To see how to create that, let's first begin with drawing a circle. I am goingto use the regular Ellipse tool and I will hold down the Option key or Alt onWindows and also the Shift key so I can draw perfect Circle out from the center.Next, I'm going to want to add some text here to this path.So to make things easier, I can actually set some of these settings in advance.I will go to the Window menu here, scroll down to where it says Type, and I willchoose open up the Character panel. In fact I want to work with the Paragraphpanel as well, so I am simply going to take the tab of the Character panel anddrag it out so it is own separate panel.

Let me position these right about over here, so now I have both the Characterand Paragraph panel visible.I want my text to be centered, so I am going to click on the Align Center option.And I want is Chaparral Pro Bold for my typeface, so from the popup over here I amgoing to choose Chaparral Pro and I will now choose Bold and I'll use the typefacelittle bit bigger, maybe around 24 points. Great.Now I am ready to add my type to this circle and create a type on a path object.Now, I will start by first coming over here to my Tools panel and I willselect the Type tool.

While we know that there are several type tools here which I can access byclicking and holding the mouse button down on the type tool, I can use certainkeyboard shortcuts so that I don't have to keep switching between these tools.For example when I am on the artboard with my regular Type tool, I know that ifI click once, I'll create a point text object. If I click and drag, I willcreate an area text object.If I click on an open path, that path will turn into a type on a path object, butI also know that if I move my cursor over a closed shape, Illustrator actuallyturns into the cursor with those parentheses, indicating it's going to turn that intoan area text object.

In other words, Illustrator thinks that I might want to put text inside of thiscircle and treat a circle like a container for the text. I don't want to do that here.I actually want this to turn into a type on a path object where the textruns along the perimeter or the outside of the circle.So to do that I am going to press the Option key or the Alt key on my keyboard.Now you will notice that my cursor changes to the Type on a Path tool.Now remember I had my text now set to centered, so I want my text to be centeredright at the top of the circle right here.

So I could type the word CULTIVATE.So with my Option key held down, I am now going to click on this area andwatch what happens.Yes, it did now convert this to a type on a path object but my blinking cursornow is at the bottom of the circle. In fact, if I start typing the wordCULTIVATE I see that that text right now is perfectly centered at the bottom.Why did that happen?Well, let's switch to the Direct Selection tool and will get a betterunderstanding of what just happened.You see when we're working with an open path and I click at one point tocreate my type on a path object, the place where I click actually becomes my start point.

However, a quick look now at the circle reveals that at the top of my circle Inow see both the start and the end points. I also see both the in and out ports.This is because on a closed path, the same place that I click not onlydefines my start point.It also defines the endpoint.That's because we are dealing with a continuous path here.So when I click at this point, I have indeed created my start point, but if Ithen travel 360 degrees around the circle, my endpoint is right back where I started.

Since I specified my text to be centered, this point at the bottom of the circleis now the center point between my both start and end points.So to fix this problem, all I need to do is move down over here, grab the centerpoint, and drag it up towards the top.If I am using Smart Guides, it's really easy to snap it right in to position.However, at this point I now want the words YOUR GARDEN to appear along thebottom part of the circle, but remember inside of Illustrator, I can only havetext travel in one direction along a path and it can only be on one side of thatpath, in this case either the outside or the inside.

In order for text to travel in this direction, I would need the text to betraveling on the inside of that path.So to do that I'm now going to create a second type object. I'll hold down myOption key on my keyboard or Alt on Windows and I will click and drag to createa copy of this type on a path object.Now I can double click on the text to change my type cursor, hit Command+A toselect all of my text within this particular text object, type in the wordsYOUR GARDEN, and then using my Direct Selection tool move the center point ofthis one not only towards the bottom of the circle, but also towards the insideof the circle as well.

So I have created two basic elements I need in order to complete my construct here.To align them correctly, I am going to use my Selection tool to select both ofthese elements and then from the Control panel I will click a line to bringup the Align options and I will align it both vertically and horizontally by their centers.At this point though I still need to make one other adjustment because if Iselect this, you'll see that the word CULTIVATE appears along the outside of the path, but the word YOUR GARDEN appears along the inside of the path.So I am not really getting the visual look that I'm going for. I really need thetops of the letters here of YOUR GARDEN to align up here with the path itself,not the bottom of that text.

So to make that adjustment I'm going to be using Baseline Shift. I'll take myType tool, I'll click to insert my icon here inside of this text, and pressCommand+A and I can now use the Baseline Shift option, I will go here usingnegative values, to actually push my text out so that it aligns correctly.I could then use additional settings here inside a Character panel, for examplea point size and tracking, to get my text to look exactly as I need it.

Q: Despite clicking the rectangle icon on the toolbar, as shown in the video, the other tool shapes are not accessible in Illustrator. The rectangle is usable, but the star, ellipse, etc. are not, and do not appear anywhere in the toolbar. What is causing this problem?

A: These tools are grouped together, so to access them, click and hold the mouse for a second until the other tools appear. If that isn't happening, reset the Illustrator preferences file. To do so, quit Illustrator and then relaunch the application while pressing and holding the Ctrl+Alt+Shift keys. Once the Illustrator splash screen appears, release the keys and that will reset the preferences file.

Q: In the video “What are vector graphics,” the author states that if he creates a 1 inch x 1 inch Photoshop file at 300ppi image, there are 300 pixels in that image. Is that correct?

A: This statement is by the author was not totally correct. If the resolution is 300ppi, it means that there are 300 pixels across one inch, both vertically and horizontally. That would mean you'd have 90,000 pixels in a 1 inch x 1 inch image at 300 ppi.

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